One of Australia’s biggest comparison sites, finder.com.au, estimates that 13.5 percent of Australians – or 2.6 million people – are planning to head online for a Boxing Day bargain.
That translates to a predicted $2.26 billion of online sales over the post Christmas sales period as bargain-hunters take advantage of a surge in promotional offers, including coupon codes, free shipping and gifts with purchase.
But Bessie Hassan, consumer advocate at finder.com.au, also says shoppers need to exercise caution.
“Clearly, Australians have an insatiable appetite for online shopping. But with an estimated $28.5 billion expected to be racked up on plastic in December – up by almost $650 million percent on last year – Australians need to set themselves a budget to avoid going on a spending binge,” warns Bessie.
“Shop responsibly and read the fine print before adding items to your cart.”
Six tips on how to shop online like a pro
- Shop on trusted websites only. Use a website reviews service and read about other people’s experiences using a site.
- If you’re uncomfortable giving your credit card details to multiple sites, use a service such as PayPal. This is also handy for building points on rewards cards and gives you the ability to use cards that may not be accepted on all sites that accept PayPal.
- If buying from an international site, use a credit card for overseas purchases – those that waive currency conversion and foreign transaction fees.
- Read the fine print. Check the terms and conditions, especially the exchange and returns policy.
- Before paying, search for any available discount codes online – you can often find free delivery, discount codes, or other special offers.
- Subscribe to e-newsletters of sites you like to be the first to know about special sales offers and promotions.
Research compiled by www.finder.com.au.
Find out more about finder.com.au Boxing Day shopping report here
